Snippets From Home: January 2013

Friday, January 25, 2013

Monday, January 21, 2013

My weekend was a particularly busy one (just the way I like it :). Friday night I went and watched the "Player of the Week" - my nephew Daniel - play basketball. Let me just say this - the boy has got some talent :) He did this behind the back thing (passing the ball) to his best friend Joe and my sister and I were like, "That's what we're talking about!!! That boy has got game :)"

I did some thrifting and bought some plates that are just plain happy.

I played house. Did you ever play house when you were a kid? I always did. Other kids would play school or dress up. I played house and when I went shopping with my Mom, I would spend my time looking at baby clothes :)

I bought fresh flowers because I think they just add so much to the house. You can get them pretty cheap too.

Roses and polka dot plants were my plants of choice this weekend. The roses are on my dining room table and I placed the polka dot plants in an old lazy Susan canister set that I had in my barn. It was filthy, but I cleaned it up, placed potting soil in it, put the plants in it and made myself a terrarium. Actually, four little terrariums :)

Although I didn't bake this weekend, I did buy a chocolate peanut butter cream pie from Wegmans. It was delicious (as you can see from the picture below :)!!!

While we watched the Presidential inauguration today, we enjoyed homemade bean soup and clementines.

Now, if you will excuse me I have to prepare supper (baked chicken and roasted vegetables) while my two dogs enjoy the high life :)

Have a wonderful night.
Temperatures here tomorrow will be in the single digits.
Stay warm and safe :)

Monday, January 14, 2013

Hiking Canadice Lake

Yesterday afternoon before the cold front came through, Dave and I went hiking along Canadice Lake. As you can see by the pictures, blue skies turned gray as the cold front approached. We were fine with it however. And so were our dogs as we all prefer cooler temperatures when exercising.
Care to go for a hike?
Recently purchased by the State of New York, it is a watershed for the City of Rochester. It is beautiful.

There are wood duck houses in the wetland area.

A road encompasses the lake making it perfect for hiking, cross country skiing and/or mountain biking.

Old cottage foundations dating back to the 1800s dot the hillside.

Runoff provides much needed water.

You will see various sizes of glacial erratics (rocks left behind after the ice age) along the trails.

and be provided with ample photographic opportunities.

Go for a walk.
It is not only good for you physically, but mentally too :)

Sunday, January 13, 2013

The Weekend

We experienced a January thaw this weekend. I must admit I loved it. Most of the snow pack is gone. There is, however, ice on both the ponds. My spike plant is still alive :) Whodathunk?

I took Snoop and Violet for several walks. I have to be careful with Snoop though. He hurt his right knee right before Christmas and it still hurts him so he moves a little slower. He will be getting an ibuprofen tonight.

Violet, on the other hand, is her rambunctious self - rolling in whatever smells nasty. She will be getting a bath tonight.

Isn't nature beautiful?

In the kitchen I prepared some special meals...

for my Mom (who I had not seen since Thanksgiving). She unfortunately came down with a terrible case of the flu at Christmas and it lasted into New Year's Day. She feels better now though :)

and this punk right here who returned to college today. It was great having him home :)

I tried a new recipe - chicken and wild rice casserole. I wasn't totally sold on it though. I think I would have liked it better without the five cups of chicken, four cups of cheese and one cup of sour cream. It was just a little too far over the top for my taste. Everyone else loved it though.